[Fmpro] Fwd: This Week in FMW: FTV Music Conf, NeKo Demo, New SESAC Office, ASCAP UK Awards

[Mark Northam]

Hi Michael

On 10/23/07 6:46 PM, "Michael S Patterson" <doc_absynthe at yahoo.com> wrote:

> Mark,
> I found that ad a little odd since I was wondering who it was aimed at
> within
> the readership. I also think you are right in that there seems to be a ever
> growing glut of libraries offering license free music.

Of Film Music Weekly's 17,000+ readers, our best information is that
approximately 50% are composers, with the rest including agents, managers,
studio music execs, recording musicians, music editors, music supervisors,
and others in the industry.
> 
> I¹m one who believes that a composer should do whatever he/she wants,
> at least in our current climate but I feel that to depend on broadcast
> royalties to earn a living is not too smart and very short sided.

Fair enough, but with sync fees and composer fees plummeting due to supply
and demand, it seems that broadcast royalties would be an easier and more
stable income stream to protect and bolster.

> 
> I personally believe there will be a day when the PROs will loose the US
> broadcast revenue stream. TV is going to become a new beast. We are
> going to be forced to reevaluate upfront fees and secondary markets.
> We also might finally be able to unionize if the PROs are no longer part
> of the equation. I¹m not holding my breath but I do think that day is
> Coming. Until pro composers for film and TV realize that the PROs are
> what are holding us all back then we are doomed to stab each other
> repeatedly in the back for pennies.

Absolutely. By pitting songwriters against composers, fighting for the PRO
royalty "pie", they have effectively divided and emasculated the writer
industry, combined of course with the dependence writers now have on a
monolithic royalty system that is anything but transparent and accountable,
leaving writers to fend for themselves with the PROs, instead of being our
hired middlemen and representatives, having taken control of the
transactions and keeping writers - the true authors of the music that funds
the entire system - divided, ill-informed, and vulnerable.

I'm amazed some PRO board members and management can sleep at night these
days given the blatant injustices that are levied against composers every
day, but I guess when you're making that much money, you can justify
anything in the name of being better than "not getting royalties at all". A
very dangerous application of "the ends justifies the means", just like
1,200 signatures to get on the ballot unless you're "selected" by a
committee working in secret, accountable to no one. Amazing to see how the
PROs have used a siege mentality to justify any number of unconscionable
acts directed at the livelihoods of those who don't write lyrics.

Best,

Mark Northam



---------------------------------
Mark Northam, CEO
Global Media Development Group

http://www.RoyaltyWeek.com - The Business of Music Royalties Worldwide

1-800-774-3700 ext. 702 / 310-645-9000 ext. 702
http://www.gmdgroup.com
Yahoo/Skype: marknortham  /  AIM: mnortham